A model for mutation in bacterial populations

Abstract

We describe the evolution of $E.coli$ populations through a Bak-Sneppen type model which incorporates random mutations. We show that, for a value of the mutation level which coincides with the one estimated from experiments, this model reproduces the measures of mean fitness relative to that of a common ancestor, performed for over 10,000 bacterial generations.

4 pages, 3 (eps) figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters